Gun locking device

ABSTRACT

A gun locking device includes a lock removably disposable within a cavity of a gun, such as being slidably received within a magazine well of the gun. An elongated rod is extendable into the gun through a chamber thereof for locking engagement with the lock. An end of the rod defines a plug disposable within the chamber of the gun when the rod is in engagement with the lock to prevent ammunition from being disposed within the chamber and the gun being discharged.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser.No. 62/233,744, filed Sep. 28, 2015.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to guns and firearms. Moreparticularly, the present invention relates to a gun locking device thatprevents a gun from being loaded with ammunition and fired.

Firearm use and ownership has increased over the years. Those owning andusing guns include members of the military, police forces, and thoseowning guns ranging from the casual gun collector to those using gunsfor recreational or protective purposes.

Along with the increased firearm ownership and use has come an enhancedconcern for firearm safety. This includes a concern for preventingaccidental discharge or unauthorized use of the gun.

Safety devices have been introduced to address this concern. Forexample, there are various types of gun locks that are available. Manyof these, however, are ineffective as they can be easily disarmed,difficult to install, fail to prevent discharge of the gun wheninstalled, or overly complex in construction and expensive.

It is known that trigger locks and chain or cable locks can be used forlocking the firing mechanism of guns. One problem with these types oflocks is their safety is poor. As these locks are exposed on the outsideof the gun after they have been locked, it is easy for someone todiscover the lock. Consequently, it is easy to destroy the lock with ahacksaw, file or cutting pliers. In addition, in the case of a handgun,it is difficult to put the handgun into a holster if it has an outsidelock.

Currently, as a safety measure, every new semi-automatic handgun issupplied with a cable-type lock wherein a flexible cable extends throughthe magazine well and chamber of the gun and is attached to an externallock, such as a padlock or the like. However, these are easily defeatedas the cable can be accessed and cut with wire cutters or bolt cuttersor the like. Furthermore, the handgun is not able to be placed within aholster or the like when locked.

The use of a lockable barrel plug as a deterrent to unauthorized use orinadvertent or accidental discharge of a gun is also well known. Suchplugs typically rely on some form of inside-of-the-barrel plug expansionor outside-of-the-barrel plug compression to secure the plug in thebarrel. However, these lockable plugs also have disadvantages. As theplugs often radially expand within the barrel and rely on frictionalengagement with the inner wall of the barrel to resist removal of theplug from the barrel, they often require complex expanding mechanisms inorder to achieve sufficient frictional contact between the barrel andthe plug surfaces. Moreover, while the plug is in the barrel, asubstantial portion of their operating structure is usually exposed totampering outside of the barrel. The locking barrel plugs can also bedifficult for the user to install and remove, and only offer modestresistance to unauthorized removal of the plug from the barrel. They mayalso mar or more severely damage the barrel surface in normal use astheir expanding components must exert significant force against thebarrel wall. Moreover, lockable barrel plugs may still permit cartridgesor other ammunition to be within the gun, such as in a cartridgemagazine within the magazine well of the gun.

Accordingly, there is a continuing need for overcoming the problemsencountered in the conventional practices. What is needed is a gunlocking device which is simple to manufacture and easy to install andremove. What is also needed is a gun locking device which is not easilydisarmed or removed from the gun. What is also needed is a gun lockingdevice which when in operation still allows the gun owner to utilizeexisting cases, holders, holsters and the like. The present inventionfulfills these needs, and provides other related advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention resides in a gun locking device which isrelatively simple in manufacture and easy to use. When in operation, thegun locking device is disposed within the gun so as to not be easilydisarmed or destroyed. Moreover, the gun locking device of the presentinvention enables the locked gun to be placed in its existing case,holder, holster or the like.

The gun locking device of the present invention generally comprises alock removably disposable within a cavity of the gun. An elongated rodis extendable into the gun through a chamber of the gun and configuredfor locking engagement with the lock. An end of the elongated roddefines a plug which is disposable in the chamber of the gun when therod is in engagement with the lock. Ammunition cannot be disposed withinthe chamber and the gun discharged when the rod is in locked engagementwith the lock and the plug is disposed within the chamber.

The lock includes a housing that is slidably received within a magazinewell of the gun. Typically, the lock housing has an exteriorconfiguration similar to that of a cartridge magazine of the gun so asto be inserted into and removed from the magazine well similar to thecartridge magazine.

The plug substantially occupies the gun chamber to prevent ammunitionfrom being inserted therein. The plug may have a configurationsubstantially matching or conforming to the gun chamber.

The rod is typically rigid substantially along a length thereof. Aportion of the rod spaced from the plug engages a latch of the lock. Thedevice includes means, such as a key, for selectively unlocking the lockto disengage the rod.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following more detailed description, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way ofexample, the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention. In such drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of components of a gun locking deviceembodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a gun and a cartridge-bearingmagazine, and the device of the present invention being inserted intothe gun to lock the gun and prevent operation and discharge thereof, inaccordance with the present invention;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are cross-sectional views illustrating a rod of thedevice being moved into locked engagement with a lock of the device ofthe present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view illustrating a gun having the deviceof the present invention therein in a locked state, with a keypositioned to unlock the device for removal, in accordance with thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown in the accompanying illustrations for exemplary purposes, thepresent invention is directed to a gun locking device, generallyreferred to by the reference number 100. The device of the presentinvention is simple and easy to use and securely locks a firearm andprevents it from being loaded and discharged.

With reference to FIG. 1, the gun locking device 100 of the presentinvention generally comprises a lock assembly 102 which is removablydisposable within a cavity of the gun. A rod 104, as will be more fullyexplained herein, extends through a chamber of the gun and is configuredfor locking engagement with a lock 106 of the locking assembly 102. Thedevice 100 also includes a key 108, or other means for selectivelyunlocking the lock 106 to disengage the rod 104.

With reference now to FIG. 2, the present invention is particularlyadapted for use in guns and firearms 10, such as the illustratedsemi-automatic handgun, which utilize an ammunition magazine duringnormal use. The ammunition magazine 12 is removably inserted into amagazine well 14, which is an internal compartment or cavity of the gun10. In the case of many handguns, including the illustrated handgun 10,the magazine well or compartment 14 is within the grip or handle 16 ofthe gun 10. However, it will be understood that the ammunition magazine12 could be inserted into magazine well 14 having a different location,depending upon the gun. The ammunition magazine 12 is loaded withammunition 18, which are typically cartridges, comprising a shellencasing a gun powder and partially encasing a bullet.

During operation of the gun 10, the ammunition magazine 12 advances thecartridges 18, or other ammunition, into a chamber 20 where a firingmechanism (not shown) of the gun 10 will discharge the ammunition, suchas a firing pin hitting a primer of the cartridge 18 so as to ignite thegun powder therein and discharge the bullet from the gun 10. As is knownin the art, the discharge of the cartridge or other ammunition, such asby pulling the trigger 22 of the gun 10 will cause a series ofcomponents of the gun 10 to move which will typically eject the emptyshell, as the chamber 20 is opened, such as by moving slide 24 to anopen and extended position, whereupon in the case of automatic orsemi-automatic weapons will also result in another round of ammunitionor a cartridge 18 being automatically inserted into the chamber 20.

However, as is known in the art, a cartridge 18 or other ammunition canbe inserted into the chamber 20 by other means, such as by an operatorof the gun manually inserting a cartridge 18 into the chamber 20. Thiscould be done, for example, in the semi-automatic handgun which isillustrated by pulling the slide 24 back to open the chamber 20,manually inserting a cartridge 18 therein, and closing the slide 24, andthus chamber 20, rendering the gun 10 ready for firing or discharge.

The device 100 of the present invention is particularly adapted for usein connection with guns and firearms having ammunition magazines andmagazine wells, such as the semi-automatic handgun 10 illustrated inFIG. 2. However, it will be appreciated that the device 100 of thepresent invention can be used in a wide variety of guns. These caninclude handguns and rifles which have magazines and magazine wells, andeven those that do not.

With reference again to FIG. 2, in a particularly preferred embodiment,the ammunition magazine 12 is removed from the gun 10, and the chamber20 opened. Removal of the ammunition magazine 12 and the opening of thechamber 20 ensures that there is no ammunition within the gun 10, andalso places the gun 10 in a state to receive the locking device 100 ofthe present invention. The locking assembly 102 includes a housing 110into which the lock 106 is operably disposed. The lock assembly 102 isslidably received within the magazine well 14 of the gun 10. Preferably,the exterior configuration of the housing 110 of the lock assembly 102is similar in shape and configuration to the actual magazine for thespecific model and brand of the gun or firearm. This allows the lockassembly 102 to be insertable and engagable, or removable, from the gun10 as would be the normal ammunition magazine 12 used in connection withthat gun.

With reference to FIGS. 2, 3A and 3B, once the lock assembly 102 isdisposed within the magazine well 14, the rod 104 is inserted into thegun through the chamber 20 and into a passageway 112 of the lockassembly 102 which extends to the lock 106. A portion of the rod 104 isconfigured for locking engagement with the lock.

An end 114 of the rod 104 defines a plug which is disposable within thechamber 20 of the gun 10 when the rod is in locked engagement with thelock 106. The plug 114 substantially occupies the gun chamber 20 toprevent ammunition from being inserted therein. The plug 114, whendisposed within the chamber 20 prevents ammunition from being insertedwithin the chamber 20. The plug 114 may have a configurationsubstantially matching that of the gun chamber 20 so that the plugsubstantially occupies the gun chamber to prevent ammunition from beinginserted therein, and so as to substantially be disposed and residewithin the gun chamber 20 when the device 100 of the present inventionis in a locked state.

With continuing reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B, the illustrated lock 106is in the form of a cylinder or barrel lock, such as a vending machinelock. A latch or detent 116 is biased outwardly from the lock 106, suchas by spring 118. The latch 116 may have a beveled face 120. As the end122 of the rod 104 engages the latch 116, such as pushing on the beveledface 120, the latch or detent 116 is pushed against the spring 118inwardly into the lock 106, permitting the end 122 of the rod 104 topass thereby. The rod 104 includes an area 124 of reducedcross-sectional diameter compared to the end 122, or a portion of therod immediately adjacent thereto. Spring 118 will push the latch ordetent 116 into the area of reduced cross-sectional diameter 124 once itis aligned with the latch 116. When the rod 104 is fully inserted intothe gun and into locking engagement with lock 106, typically an audibleclick sound will be heard by the latch 116 moving back into a lockingposition and into engagement with the rod 104, alerting the user thatthe rod 104 has been moved into locking engagement with the lock 106.Engagement of the latch 116 with a ledge 126 or other enlarged area ofthe rod prevents the rod 104 from being lifted, removed or otherwisedisengaged from the lock 106.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that instead of therod 104 having an area of reduced cross-sectional diameter 124, the rodmay instead include an area of enlarged diameter which will engage thelatch 116, and provide a ledge 126 or other stop that engages the latch116 once the latch 116 extends back into a locking position. It willalso be understood by those skilled in the art that different types oflocks, locking mechanisms and rod configurations may be employed inconnection with the present invention, so long as the rod 104 can bemoved into locking engagement with the lock 106.

As illustrated in FIG. 3B, when the rod 104 is in locking engagementwith lock 106, the plug 114 is disposed within the chamber 20 of thegun. Typically, the rod 104 is substantially rigid along a lengththereof. While the rod 104 is shown as being generally straight andangled in the embodiment illustrated, it will be appreciated that therod 104 may have one or more bends or curves along the length thereof orhave a different configuration depending upon the gun with which it isused so that the plug 114 ends up being disposed within the gun chamber20 while the rod, typically at generally the opposite end thereof, comesinto locking engagement with the lock 106.

One of the advantages and benefits of the locking device 100 of presentinvention is that the rod 104 and locking assembly 102 are substantiallydisposed within the gun 10 when in locking engagement with one anotherin the locked state. This prevents tampering with the locking device 100as the components thereof reside within the gun 10 and are not readilyaccessible for tampering or damage, such as by cutting or the like.Moreover, as the locking device 100 of the present invention issubstantially disposed within the gun 10 in its locked state, the gun 10can be placed within its regular holster, case, holder or the like.

Another advantage of the locking device 100 of the present invention isthat the device 100 in its locked state prevents any cartridge orammunition from being disposed within the chamber 20 as well as anycartridge or other ammunition being within the magazine well 14 of thegun 10. This provides an extra degree of safety and protection. Thisalso prevents an ammunition cartridge from being automatically loadedinto the chamber when the locking device is removed, as it is possiblewith other prior art gun locking devices.

With reference now to FIG. 4, a bottom perspective view of a handgun 10having the locking device 100 of the present invention therein in alocked state is shown. It can be seen how the plug 114 of the rod 104 isdisposed within the chamber 20 of the gun so as to substantially fillthe chamber, yet provide very little profile extending therefrom, inaccordance with a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention.Similarly, the locking assembly 102 is disposed within the magazine wellwithin the handle or grip 16 of the gun 10 so as to be substantiallydisposed within the gun 10 as well. In order to unlock the lockingdevice 100, a key 108 is inserted into the lock 106 and turned whichwill cause the latch 116 to be retracted, similar to that illustrated inFIG. 3A.

While a cylinder lock commonly used in vending machines is illustratedas the lock 106 of the device 100 in the drawings, it will be understoodthat other locks could be used and other means of unlocking the lockcould also be used in connection with these locks. For example, the lockmay be operated with a key, a combination key, a biometric key or thelike. The rod 104 may have different configurations, geometric shapes,cutouts, etc. formed therein in order to lockingly engage with the lock.

The lock 106, or locking mechanism thereof, may be removable. This wouldallow the lock or locking mechanism to be exchanged and interchangeable.This would enable a new or different lock to be installed or a lock orlocking mechanism with a different key to be installed. The presentinvention also contemplates that a plurality of the locking devices 100of the present invention have locks which are keyed-alike or keyedsequentially so as to be installed and removed by the user withoutaffecting the lock system form and function. Having a plurality of lockdevices of the present invention all keyed alike so as to be unlockedwith a single key or single type of key could be useful, for example, inpolice departments, military situations and the like where a master key,keys of the same cut or configuration, etc. can be used to unlocklocking devices associated with a plurality of guns for the sake ofconvenience.

After unlocking the lock 106, the rod 104 can be removed, such as bymanually removing the rod 104 by grasping plug 114 and pulling the rod104 away from the gun, or the gun can be rotated and tilted so that therod 104 falls therefrom. The locking assembly 104 is then removed fromthe gun 10, typically by actuating a lever or latch 26 which typicallyis used to unlatch and remove the ammunition magazine 12. The lockhousing 110 will then be ejected or slide out of the magazine well 114,enabling the user to insert an ammunition magazine 12 into the magazinewell 14 in order to use the gun 10. The process of unlocking and lockingthe device 100 is easy, intuitive and can be done within a few seconds.

Although the device 100 of the present invention has been illustratedfor use in connection with a handgun 10 having an ammunition magazine12, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the presentinvention could be used for other firearms, such as revolver-stylepistols, shotguns and some rifles that do not have a removable magazine.This would include the placement of a locking plug into the open chamberof the gun, and the insertion of the locking rod through the gun andinto engagement with the lock which is disposed in a cavity of the gun,such as within the barrel of the gun or other cavity. Such aconfiguration would still prevent a cartridge or other ammunition frombeing disposed within the chamber of the gun, preventing the gun fromfiring or discharging, and would also be very tamper resistant of thecomponents of the locking device would be disposed substantially, oreven completely, within the gun making defeat of the lock moredifficult.

Although several embodiments have been described in detail for purposesof illustration, various modifications may be made without departingfrom the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the inventionis not to be limited, except as by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A locking device for a gun, comprising: a lockremovably disposable within a cavity of the gun; and an elongated rodextendible into the gun through a chamber of the gun and configured forlocking engagement with the lock and an end defining a plug disposablein the chamber of the gun when the rod is in engagement with the lock;wherein ammunition cannot be disposed within the chamber and the gundischarged when the rod is in locked engagement with the lock and theplug is disposed within the chamber.
 2. The gun locking device of claim1, wherein the lock includes a housing that is slidably received withina magazine well of the gun.
 3. The gun locking device of claim 2,wherein the lock housing has an exterior configuration similar to thatof a cartridge magazine of the gun so as to be inserted into and removedfrom the magazine well similar to the cartridge magazine.
 4. The gunlocking device of claim 1, wherein the plug substantially occupies thegun chamber to prevent ammunition from being inserted therein.
 5. Thegun locking device of claim 4, wherein the plug has a configurationsubstantially matching the gun chamber.
 6. The gun locking device ofclaim 1, wherein a portion of the rod spaced from the plug engages alatch of the lock.
 7. The gun locking device of claim 1, including meansfor selectively unlocking the lock to disengage the rod.
 8. The gunlocking device of claim 1, wherein the rod is rigid substantially alonga length thereof.
 9. A locking device for a gun, comprising: a lockincluding a housing configured to be slidably inserted and removed froma magazine well of the gun; and an elongated rod configured forreleasable locking engagement with the lock and having an end defining aplug that substantially occupies a chamber of the gun when the rod is inengagement with the lock; wherein ammunition cannot be disposed withinthe chamber and the gun discharged when the rod is in locked engagementwith the lock and the plug is disposed within the chamber.
 10. The gunlocking device of claim 9, wherein the lock housing has an exteriorconfiguration similar to that of a cartridge magazine of the gun. 11.The gun locking device of claim 9, wherein the plug has a configurationsubstantially matching the gun chamber.
 12. The gun locking device ofclaim 9, including means for selectively unlocking the lock to disengagethe rod.
 13. The gun locking device of claim 9, wherein the rod is rigidsubstantially along a length thereof.
 14. A locking device for a gun,comprising: a lock including a housing having an exterior configurationsimilar to a cartridge magazine of the gun so as to be slidably insertedand removed from a magazine well of the gun; an elongated rigid rodconfigured for releasable locking engagement with the lock and having anend defining a plug that substantially occupies a chamber of the gunwhen the rod is in engagement with the lock; wherein ammunition cannotbe disposed within the chamber and the gun discharged when the rod is inlocked engagement with the lock and the plug is disposed within thechamber.
 15. The gun locking device of claim 14, wherein the plug has aconfiguration substantially matching the gun chamber.
 16. The gunlocking device of claim 14, including means for selectively unlockingthe lock to disengage the rod.